Lin Ming Tao
I joined Citadel Search in April 2023 as a Talent Acquisition Intern. During this 4-month internship, I am responsible for two main areas of work, Talent Acquisition and Marketing & Translation.
My talent acquisition responsibilities include sourcing and screening talent for clients in Singapore and Mainland China, focusing on corporate function roles (finance, HR and IT support) for MNCs and engineering roles for semiconductor companies. During the internship at Citadel Search, I successfully placed 2 positions, a Senior Global Reporting Manager for a SaaS client and an IT Support Engineer for a professional services company.
I also supported marketing where I had to develop collaterals and translated English materials into simplified Chinese for our marketing promotional materials including slide decks. In addition, I also developed 3 company content specific for educating our candidates from English into simplified Chinese. It was really fun as I learnt and gained so much content too.
Citadel 7-Step Methodology is really a useful tool to help me become robust when confronted with roles I was unfamiliar with. My Mentor Cindy also taught me how to identify core competencies for each role, conduct competency-based interviews, screen candidates professionally, develop detailed screening reports, and strive for a win-win-win outcome with candidates and clients. I believe these valuable takeaways will be very helpful in my future career.
In addition, as a foreigner working in Singapore, I really appreciate Cindy's kind introduction to great food, good places to go on weekends, and other local history and culture. Cindy and Raymond have also taken us out jogging or sightseeing after work. Also, the team atmosphere is friendly and inspiring. The journey at Citadel Search for me, brings such great and wonderful memories!

Feb 2025 – Aug 2025My 6-month internship with Citadel Search has been a highly rewarding and formative experience. Under the supportive mentorship of Cindy, I was entrusted with responsibilities in both recruitment and digital marketing, contributing to projects across a range of industries, including pharmaceutical, finance, and engineering, and was involved in a successful role closure during my time.
On the digital marketing end, I shaped the firm’s social media strategy. This involved crafting LinkedIn content that delivered value to both employers and candidates, while also drawing on my creativity in posts to diversify the firm’s online presence.
In recruitment, the experience gave me a strong foundation for understanding the employer’s perspective, from recognising what makes a CV stand out to understanding how employers assess candidates during interviews. Sourcing candidates sharpened my problem-solving mindset and systematic approach, as I created comprehensive research maps and leveraged existing databases to enhance our sourcing speed, stamina and strategy. Furthermore, conducting candidate qualification interviews honed my interpersonal skills and deepened my understanding of how competency-based questions can be used to assess candidates.
In addition to strengthening my technical skills, this internship allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the firm through innovation. It has fostered a problem-solving mindset in me, encouraging me to go beyond simply completing tasks by actively seeking more efficient and sustainable approaches.
Citadel Search offers internships for Pre-University and University students that balance personal mentorship, hands-on learning and the autonomy to grow. The team is inspiring and supportive, and have equipped me with invaluable life skills that I will cherish for years to come. You are sure to learn a lot in your time here!
March 2025 – June 2025Interning at Citadel Search has been an incredibly fulfilling and eye-opening experience. As someone with a strong interest in programming and problem-solving, I gained industry exposure and tackled real datasets to optimize workflows, applying both technical and analytical skills to practical use.
Beyond picking up new programming languages, I learned best practices in software development, documentation, and workflow automation. Being entrusted with projects helped me grow more adaptable and resourceful and boosted my confidence as a developer.
Working in an agile team gave me a unique level of freedom and ownership over my work. I really appreciate how I could contribute directly and see the results of my efforts. This hands-on environment accelerated my learning and made each project feel very meaningful.
I am extremely thankful to Cindy and Raymond for providing this opportunity and creating a safe and supportive environment for me to experiment, ask questions and voice my opinions. As an intern, I felt valued and supported under their care.
Thinking back to the simulation test during my interview, I’m proud of how far I’ve come since my first day, especially in the way I think analytically and tackle problems with a clearer approach. The skills and experience I gained here have given me a solid foundation as I take my next steps into robotics. For anyone looking to learn, contribute, and be part of a supportive team, Citadel Search is the place to be!